Dishwasher
Dishwasher Smells Bad: How to Find and Remove It
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Prefer to read it? Quick checklist
- Does the smell seem burnt or electrical?
- Yes: Plastic or new-unit material is on the heating element: The odor is burnt and a new appliance or melted plastic is visible near the cool element. (possible)
- No: Is the smell musty and strongest around the door seal?
- Yes: Mildew has formed around the tub or seals: The smell is musty and visible residue is present around the tub or door seal. (possible)
- No: Does dirty water or odor return while the dishwasher sits idle?
- Yes: Drain water is flowing back between cycles: Dirty water or odor returns while the dishwasher sits unused. (possible)
- No: Is debris visible on the removable filter?
- Yes: Food particles are trapped in the filter: Debris is visible on or around the removable filter and the odor is strongest inside the tub. (likely)
- No: Are spray-arm openings visibly blocked?
- Yes: Food debris remains in spray-arm openings: Debris is visible in a jet or a spray arm does not rotate freely while the appliance is off. (possible)
- No: Grease or mineral buildup remains in the tub: The filter is clean but the interior still has a stale or greasy odor. (possible)
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If your dishwasher smells bad, check the removable filter and spray arms before adding a cleaner. Food residue is a common source, but a burnt odor, mustiness and dirty water returning between cycles point to different causes. Stop using the machine if you smell burning or see melted plastic near the heating element.
Sort the smell before cleaning
Look at the filter first. Bosch says food particles trapped there can cause odor. If the filter is dirty, remove and clean it only by the procedure in your model manual. The dishwasher filter guide compares the maker-specific instructions for removable filters.
Notice when the smell is strongest. A stale or greasy smell inside the tub can come from residue or spray-arm openings. A drain-like odor that returns while the unit is idle can mean dirty water is flowing back. A musty smell around the door can point to mildew on the seal. A sharp burnt-plastic smell needs a different response: turn the machine off and let it cool before inspecting anything.
Check whether water is left in the tub. If so, use the dishwasher not-draining guide because standing water and an odor may share a drain-path problem. Do not pour a cleaner into a tub that has not drained unless the product and model instructions say it is safe.
Causes, from routine cleaning to service
1. Food particles are trapped in the filter
Food particles are trapped in the filter
Debris is visible on or around the removable filter and the odor is strongest inside the tub.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Tools
- soft brush
Food residue on the filter is the first check when an odor is strongest inside the tub. Bosch recommends cleaning the filter regularly with soap and a soft brush under running water. Use the owner’s manual to remove it; filter designs and locks differ.
GE says models with removable Fine and Ultra Fine filters should have them cleaned monthly. Whirlpool also recommends a monthly filter clean. Those intervals apply to the models and guidance named by each maker; do not assume your filter is the same assembly.
2. Grease or mineral buildup remains in the tub
Grease or mineral buildup remains in the tub
The filter is clean but the interior still has a stale or greasy odor.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 90 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
If the filter is clean but the interior still smells stale, Bosch recommends a grease cleaner a few times a year. Its instruction is to use one box and run the hottest and longest cycle. Follow the exact product label and your model’s cleaning instructions.
Bosch also describes descaling a few times a year: use one box on the longest and hottest cycle, then run another wash cycle afterward. Do not combine cleaners or add a frequency beyond those instructions. Whirlpool likewise recommends a dishwasher cleaner monthly as part of its routine guidance.
3. Food debris remains in spray-arm openings
Food debris remains in spray-arm openings
Debris is visible in a jet or a spray arm does not rotate freely while the appliance is off.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 10 minutes
- Tools
- toothpick
Food can remain in the spray jets even after the filter is clean. Bosch says to inspect the arms and clear blocked openings with a toothpick. Turn the appliance off first and use a light touch so you do not enlarge or damage a jet.
Check whether an arm moves freely by hand only when the machine is off. If it is cracked, loose or blocked beyond the visible opening, do not disassemble it unless the owner manual describes that step. A spray problem can also leave food on dishes; the dishwasher cleaning guide covers that symptom.
4. Drain water is flowing back between cycles
Drain water is flowing back between cycles
Dirty water or odor returns while the dishwasher sits unused.
- Difficulty
- Pro
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Tools
- None listed
If dirty water or odor appears after the dishwasher has been sitting, GE says the installation may be missing an air gap or high loop. Whirlpool explains that the high loop or air gap helps prevent water from flowing backward into the appliance.
Look only at visible plumbing. Do not pull out the machine to reroute a hose. Identify only the fitting you can see, then ask an installer or plumber to check a hidden drain route against the installation instructions.
5. Plastic or new-unit material is on the heating element
Plastic or new-unit material is on the heating element
The odor is burnt and a new appliance or melted plastic is visible near the cool element.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Tools
- nonmetal scraper
A burnt smell is different from food odor. GE says a new dishwasher may smell because packaging material is on the heating element, or plastic may have melted onto the black element. Turn the unit off and wait until the element is completely cool.
GE gives different access instructions for mechanical-timer and electronic models. A mechanical-timer model is advanced to Dry for about four minutes and then turned Off; an electronic model is reset and left for about 30 minutes before the cool element is scraped with a nonmetal object. Use those steps only if they match your model and you can reach the element safely. If not, call service. Do not touch a warm element.
6. Mildew has formed around the tub or seals
Mildew has formed around the tub or seals
The smell is musty and visible residue is present around the tub or door seal.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Tools
- cloth
A musty odor or visible residue around the seal can point to mildew. GE gives a cleaning solution of one gallon of water with either one-half cup of bleach or ammonia. Never mix bleach and ammonia. Use one or the other, then run a rinse as GE instructs.
GE says running the dishwasher at least once a week can help prevent odors. Bosch also recommends regular filter cleaning. A persistent musty smell after the accessible surfaces are clean, or growth that extends beyond the seal, deserves a service or cleaning recommendation for the exact model.
Where odor can collect
Food can remain on the filter or near the pump inlet at the rear-right of the tub on the GE models described by its support page. Spray-arm openings can hold debris, while the drain hose route can allow dirty water to return if the installation lacks a high loop or air gap. The diagram labels the owner-facing filter and drain path; it does not show a model-specific disassembly procedure.
- Detergent dispenser
- Lower spray arm
- Middle spray arm
- Filter
- Sump
- Drain pump
- Drain hose
- High loop
- Air gap (if installed)
- Disposal inlet or drain connection
On the GE models covered by its odor advice, look for food residue in the tub and at the pump inlet toward the rear right. Check the location visually; do not reach into the pump opening. If you find debris but cannot safely remove it using the owner’s instructions, stop and ask GE support. A clean filter does not rule out residue elsewhere in the tub.
GE says some smells are normal on a new appliance. That is different from a burning smell accompanied by visible plastic or a smell that continues after the source has been cleaned. Whirlpool recommends regular filter cleaning and a dishwasher cleaner monthly; Bosch’s grease cleaner and descaler advice is “a few times a year.” Keep those routines tied to the maker’s instructions for your model.
Whirlpool’s monthly cleaner recommendation complements its monthly filter-cleaning advice; neither replaces the removal instructions for a specific filter assembly.
GE also suggests a cleaning cycle with a cup of detergent and no dishes when food residue is the suspected source. Use that direction only as GE describes it, and do not add bleach or another cleaner to the detergent. If you have already used a dishwasher cleaner, check its label before running a second product through the machine.
The likely source changes what you clean. Food odor calls for the removable filter and visible pump-inlet area. Debris in a spray jet calls for the model-approved arm check. A musty seal calls for wiping the accessible surface. A drain odor that returns between cycles calls for an air-gap or high-loop inspection. These checks are not interchangeable: a strong cleaner will not correct a drain route that allows dirty water back into the tub.
For the GE cleaning solution, choose one substance only: the listed mixture is one gallon of water with one-half cup of bleach, or one gallon of water with one-half cup of ammonia. Never combine them. Follow the product label. If the odor persists after cleaning or you are unsure whether the mixture is suitable for your model, use the owner’s manual or contact GE before applying it.
Record when the odor appears: when you open a tub that has been idle, after a wash, during heated drying, or only when drain water returns. That pattern helps separate food residue, backflow and a possible burnt-material smell. If water remains in the tub, note that too; a cleaning cycle is not a substitute for resolving a drain problem.
When to call
Call service if the odor is electrical, the breaker trips, the heating element is damaged, dirty water keeps returning, or the filter and visible spray arms do not explain the smell. Tell the technician whether the odor is burnt, musty or drain-like, where it is strongest and whether water remains after a cycle. That description helps separate a residue problem from a drain or electrical fault.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dishwasher smell like rotten food?
Bosch says food particles in the filter can cause odor. Check the removable filter and spray-arm openings, then clean only the parts identified in your model manual.
Can a dishwasher smell like a drain?
Yes. GE says dirty water returning between uses can be related to a missing air gap or high loop. Have the drain route checked against the installation instructions.
What should I do if my dishwasher smells like burning plastic?
GE says a new appliance can have packaging on the heating element, or plastic can melt onto it. Turn the appliance off and let the element cool fully before following model-specific guidance.
Can I use bleach and ammonia to clean a dishwasher?
No. GE lists either a diluted bleach solution or ammonia for mildew cleaning and explicitly says never to mix them. Choose one only and rinse as directed.
Sources
- Dishwasher smellsBosch Home US
- Dishwasher OdorsGE Appliances
- Dishes Not Drying: Quick Fix GuideWhirlpool Product Help